2010-2020 Mayor's Press Releases: on Crime


Tom Barrett: Supported data-driven policing strategy, crime declined 25%

Public safety is critical to strong neighborhoods. From 2007 to 2015, crime in Milwaukee declined over 25%. Mayor Barrett has supported a data-driven policing strategy focused on repeat offenders and illegal guns. The Mayor's 2017 Budget funds an average sworn strength of 1,888 and funds the hiring of 195 new officers. The Milwaukee Police Department has been a national leader in community engagement and partnership, as well as inter-agency collaboration.
Source: Milwaukee Mayoral office press release Aug 26, 2021

Tom Barrett: Street racing deaths are criminal acts, treat as murders

Two innocent people are dead after a street race near in Milwaukee. "These people murdered people. They murdered people! And they have to be treated like that," said Barrett. Barrett announced $6 million in American Rescue Act funds would be devoted to curbing reckless driving--with more than $1 million to police to increase enforcement. "I would not even call them accidents. These are criminal acts--horrific criminal acts involving very, very reckless criminal behavior," said Barrett.
Source: Milwaukee Mayoral office press release on FOX6 Aug 26, 2021

Eric Adams: I'll have cops' backs, but they'll have backs of the people

Asked what he would say to officers who are angry about calls to defund their departments, Adams said, "I say to my officers, 'If you don't want to be on the street anymore, then get off my streets.' I don't want to hear someone say, because they don't like what government is doing, you're not going to protect my public. No." He promised, "I'm going to have the finest officers. I will have their backs, but they're going to have the backs of the people of this city."
Source: Associated Press: 2021 NYC Mayoral press release Jul 7, 2021

Bill de Blasio: Free phone calls for people in custody

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that the City is now providing free phone calls for people in custody after fully implementing Intro. 741-A two days before the bill takes full effect. The implementation of Intro. 741-A makes NYC the first major city to grant free phone calls for people in custody and follows a recent set of reforms that aims to make jails safer and more humane.

"For too long have people in custody faced barriers to basic aspects of everyday life that can help create more humane jails," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "With free phone calls, we're eliminating one of those barriers and ensuring that people in custody have the opportunity to remain connected to their lawyers, families and support networks that are so crucial to re-entry into one's community."

Prior to the passage of Intro. 741-A, people in custody were charged 50 cents for the first minute and five cents for additional minutes for telephone calls. More than 25,000 calls are made daily from City jails.

Source: Mayoral press release, "People In Custody," NYC.gov May 1, 2019

Bill de Blasio: Eliminate cash bail: future without mass incarceration

For too long too many people have been unnecessarily & unfairly incarcerated based entirely on their ability to buy their freedom. By eliminating cash bail for those charged with most misdemeanors & non-violent felonies, we're helping more people remain with their families and support networks rather than behind bars. Together with speedy trial and discovery reform, I am confident we are moving toward a future without mass incarceration. However, there's much more we need to do to meet that reality.
Source: Mayoral press release, "Cash Bail," NYC.gov Apr 1, 2019

Antonio Villaraigosa: Reduce prison population & deal with recidivism

Over the last six years, we have made incredible progress in public safety. We must balance our budgets, and protect our people. We should start a discussion and drive an effort toward a sound solution that addresses our long-term prison population problem, and our short-term need to keep our streets safe. We can solve this issue together. We need a plan in CA to ease our prison population. We need a strategy to deal with recidivism. We need to examine our sentencing laws to be sure they work.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015590 Oct 3, 2011

Phil Gordon: AZ must stay vigilant; threats can come from anyone

We must continue to be vigilant to any activity that looks suspicious. Threats can come from anyone, no matter their physical appearance or dress, so we must take care not to assume certain types of people represent a greater or lesser degree of danger.

Here in Phoenix the best possible public safety team has been working since before 9/11 to keep us safe. Today, there is no pending credible threat against our community. But in matters such as these, we must take every possible precaution.

Source: 2011 Phoenix Mayoral press release, "Mayor's Blog" Sep 11, 2009

Mike Bloomberg: Mandatory minimum sentencing for gun crimes

Mayor Bloomberg announced the launch of a subway ad campaign that warns about the increase in the mandatory minimum sentence for illegal possession of a loaded handgun. Backed by Mayor Bloomberg, this legislation passed in June. “Illegal guns don’t belong on our streets and we’re sending that message loud and clear,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We’re determined to see that gun dealers who break the law are held accountable, and that criminals who carry illegal loaded guns serve serious time behind bars.
Source: Mayoral office press release PR-428-06 Dec 7, 2006

  • The above quotations are from Mayoral press releases.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Crime.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Antonio Villaraigosa on Crime.
  • Click here for more quotes by Michael Nutter on Crime.
Candidates and political leaders on Crime:

Gubernatorial Debates 2020:
DE: vs.Carney(incumbent) vs.Williams(D)
IN: vs.Holcomb(incumbent) vs.Melton(D) vs.Myers(D)
MO: Parson(incumbent) vs.Galloway(D) vs.Neely(R)
MT: Bullock(retiring) vs.Fox(R) vs.Perry(R) vs.Gianforte(R) vs.Stapleton(R) vs.Olszewski(R) vs.Neill(D) vs.Schreiner(D) vs.Cooney(D) vs.Williams(D)
NC: Cooper(incumbent) vs.Forest(R) vs.Grange(R)
ND: Burgum(incumbent) vs.Coachman(R) vs.Lenz(D)
NH: Sununu(incumbent) vs.Volinsky(D) vs. fsFeltes(D)
PR: Rossello(D) vs.Garced(D) vs.Pierluisi(D)
UT: Herbert(retiring) vs.Huntsman(R) vs.Cox(R) vs.Burningham(R) vs.Newton(D) vs.Hughes(R)
VT: Scott(incumbent) vs.Holcombe(D) vs.Zuckerman(D)
WA: Inslee(incumbent) vs.Bryant(R) vs.Fortunato(R)
WV: Justice(incumbent) vs.Folk(R) vs.Thrasher(R) vs.Vanover(D) vs.Smith(D) vs.Ron Stollings(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2021:
NJ:
Murphy(D) vs.Ciattarelli(R)
VA:
Northam(D,term-limited) vs.Herring(D) vs.Chase(R) vs.Fairfax(D)

Gubernatorial Debates 2019:
KY:
Bevin(R) vs.Goforth(R,lost primary) vs.Adkins(D,lost primary) vs.Beshear(D) vs.Edelen(D,lost primary)
LA:
Edwards(D) vs.Rispone(R) vs.Abraham(R) vs.Kennedy(R,declined)
MS:
Bryant(R,retiring) vs.Foster(R) vs.Hood(D) vs.Reeves(R) vs.Waller(R)
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Page last updated: Nov 07, 2021